When Mermaids Sleep

K-Gr 2—Mermaids are sleeping in coral caves and, in that same water, pirates are snoring in their ship. In the trunks below deck, genies dream on sand in their lamps; that sand was also used to build sand castles where sea serpents sleep. The magical world is at rest: unicorns, giants, goblins, and dwarves. Readers discover that under the same moon where fairies are slumbering is a dreaming child. In this bedtime story, it is the illustrations that shine. The palette, while muted, is still lush and full. Collage is used to great effect to create texture; readers will be tempted to run their hands over the pages, hoping to feel the mountains and trees themselves. The full-bleed artwork spreads over two pages; one can almost imagine that the world extends past the confines of the layout. The dreamlike fantasy world is captured expertly. Unfortunately, the text is not as successful; the rhyming pattern is singsongy and the lines are often forced. They combine to make a challenging read-aloud; it is easy to trip over the words and the story becomes muddled and confusing. With stunning artwork like this, it is a shame that the text isn't stronger.—Laura Lutz, Pratt Institute, New York City